crayfish

noun

cray·​fish ˈkrā-ˌfish 

1

: any of numerous freshwater decapod crustaceans (especially families Astacidea, Cambaridae, and Parastacidae) resembling the lobster but usually much smaller

2

: spiny lobster

Illustration of crayfish

• crayfish 1

Examples of crayfish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Millipedes are not insects, but rather more closely related to animals like lobster, shrimp and crayfish, according to the National Wildlife Federation. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 11 June 2025

Modern crayfish such as the Z-Man TRD CrawZ designed to be presented on a ned rig are engineered to float. —Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2025

How about Midwestern crayfish, white miso and fresh dill, with pickled celery root on the side? —Pete Wells, New York Times, 2 June 2025

Too small for there ever to be an airport, this 40-square-mile outcrop of vertiginous cliffs surrounded by churning ocean is only reachable via a berth on one of the South African fishing vessels that come to collect the crayfish. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 23 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

by folk etymology from Middle English crevis, from Anglo-French creveis, escreveice, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German krebiz crab — more at crab

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing crayfish

• sea crayfish

Kids Definition

crayfish

noun

cray·​fish ˈkrā-ˌfish 

1

: any of numerous freshwater crustaceans that are related to but usually much smaller than the lobster

2

: spiny lobster